Whoa! LOTS of libertarian bills introduced into NH legislature

[Free Moral Agent]

There are so many hot, pro-liberty bills in the NH legislature, I'm having a hard time keeping up with them all.
I thought I'd just post a sample here so people not in NH can get some kind of a sense of what's brewing, now that we have more than a dozen FSPers in the NH House of Representatives!

It's a long list Cheesy -- totally worth your time to scan thru & click for details on items that look interesting to you.

Big thanks to all the FSPers in NH who are helping push these bills forward!!!

http://www.nhliberty.org/bills/view/2011/CACR13 - Constitutional Amendment: no income tax
http://www.nhliberty.org/bills/view/2011/HB145 - audiorecording public officials
http://www.nhliberty.org/bills/view/2011/HB146 - jury nullification
http://www.nhliberty.org/bills/view/2011/HB326 - end "evergreen" contracts for public employee collective bargaining agreements
http://www.nhliberty.org/bills/view/2011/HB241 - free market for health insurance
http://www.nhliberty.org/bills/view/2011/HB619 - opt out of "Obamacare"
http://www.nhliberty.org/bills/view/2011/HB631 - make Kindergarten optional
http://www.nhliberty.org/bills/view/2011/HB324 - exempts goods and services in NH from federal law & regulation
http://www.nhliberty.org/bills/view/2011/HB89 - join the lawsuit against "Obamacare"
http://www.nhliberty.org/bills/view/2011/HB210 - right to use deadly force in self defense, anywhere you have a right to be
http://www.nhliberty.org/bills/view/2011/HB125 - exempts firearms, etc., made in NH from federal law & regulation
http://www.nhliberty.org/bills/view/2011/HB133 - repealing the minimum wage
http://www.nhliberty.org/bills/view/2011/HB330 - "constitutional carry"
http://www.nhliberty.org/bills/view/2011/HB291 - repealing (virtually?) all restrictions on fireworks
http://www.nhliberty.org/bills/view/2011/HB442 - medical marijuana
http://www.nhliberty.org/bills/view/2011/CACR9 - Constitutional Amendment: "the State shall not abridge the role or responsibility of parents in controlling the health, education, or welfare of their children."
http://www.nhliberty.org/bills/view/2011/HB235 - permits the carrying of a firearm in one’s motor vehicle
http://www.nhliberty.org/bills/view/2011/HB422 - prohibiting vaccinations in public schools
http://www.nhliberty.org/bills/view/2011/HB341 - authorizes towns to enforce local spending caps
http://www.nhliberty.org/bills/view/2011/HB540 - makes motor vehicle inspections biennial, instead of the current annual
http://www.nhliberty.org/bills/view/2011/HB628 - prohibit TSA groping/scanners (actually makes those punishable as a sexual assault!)
http://www.nhliberty.org/bills/view/2011/HB474 - freedom of choice on whether to join a labor union

http://forum.freestateproject.org/index.php?topic=22885.msg259460#msg259460

[daviddee]

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[Sola_Fide]

Whoa. Great!

[BuddyRey]

I sure hope they manage to get these through. If it wasn't for the completely unreasonable level of taxation in NH (not that any level is reasonable, but that's a different topic altogether), I would have made the move long ago.

[MRoCkEd]

amazing, amazing

[smoking357]

So is New Hampshire the most libertarian state? I found this site over the weekend by searching this question, and there's one poster here of some gravity who found NH to be no libertarian sanctuary.

[Jeremy]

So is New Hampshire the most libertarian state? I found this site over the weekend by searching this question, and there's one poster here of some gravity who found NH to be no libertarian sanctuary.

It is.

[Jeremy]

I sure hope they manage to get these through. If it wasn't for the completely unreasonable level of taxation in NH (not that any level is reasonable, but that's a different topic altogether), I would have made the move long ago.

No sales or income tax = unreasonable?

[smoking357]

No sales or income tax = unreasonable?

No seatbelt, helmet or insurance laws, either.

What's that crap about vehicle inspections?

[ItsTime]

http://www.nhliberty.org/bills/view/2011/CACR13 (Amendment to NH Constitution for no income tax)

My rep introduced this. I talked to him the other day and he said he has introduced this a few times in the past and could not get anyone behind it. HOWEVER, this time around he says he has the support of both the house and senate leaders and thinks it will become part of the NH Constitution.

[leonster]

As a suggestion... it's great to put these bills out there and hopefully pass them. It would be even greater, however, if we could start repealing more laws than we pass. What about entire bills introduced that simply repeal, piece by piece, huge parts of code? Start with redundant, unnecessary, and unpopular bills.

[Anti Federalist]

I sure hope they manage to get these through. If it wasn't for the completely unreasonable level of taxation in NH (not that any level is reasonable, but that's a different topic altogether), I would have made the move long ago.

????

NH has the 5th lowest total state and local tax burden in the country.

http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/01/tax-burdens-by-state/

I could agree that we should have THE lowest, but 5th ain't too shabby.

[Anti Federalist]

Huzzah for Constitutional Carry!!

I want the salt water fishing license fee repealed as well.

[kahless]

CACR9 and CAR13 have this language.


2/3 of those voting on the amendment, it becomes effective when the governor proclaims its adoption.

How does it look getting 2/3 and the governor approval?

[libertybrewcity]

these are amazing bills. Im very proud of NH, and I kind of want to live there now!!

[eduardo89]

Why can't congressional bills be that concise? Most of those bills are under 500 words! 500 WORDS, NOT PAGES!

[Grubb556]

I hope the bill that abolishes income tax is passed.

[BuddyRey]

No sales or income tax = unreasonable?

I was thinking more in terms of their property taxes. It's not unusual for folks in Keene to pay upwards of $4,000 a year.

[low preference guy]

I was thinking more in terms of their property taxes. It's not unusual for folks in Keene to pay upwards of $4,000 a year.

The overall tax burden is lowest in NH than any other state except Alaska.

[Ricky201]

Boy those New Hampshire free staters are making it hard for me not to consider a move out there.

[gls]

I was thinking more in terms of their property taxes. It's not unusual for folks in Keene to pay upwards of $4,000 a year.

Yes but if you're concerned about taxes why buy property in Keene? If you like the area, Surry, NH is 15 minutes away with half the mill rate. See: http://www.joeshimkus.com/NH-Tax-Rates.aspx

If you look on the coast there are also many low-tax towns, such as New Castle with a mill rate under 5.

[ItsTime]

I hope the bill that abolishes income tax is passed.

VERY good chance of it happening. :D

[BuddyRey]

The overall tax burden is lowest in NH than any other state except Alaska.

I understand, but the picture isn't quite as rosy for out-of-state investors. I was planning on buying a house out there and renting it out at a discount as a Free Stater sanctuary until I build enough income to make the move myself. Residents there are in great shape taxwise, but I could barely afford to do what little I can to support the movement while still paying North Carolina state and federal taxes. It would almost be like living in Massachusetts, but without the crappy weather.

[Kylie]

There are some bad ass bills in that bunch.

Sure wish it was warmer, though. I'd definitely consider it.

[Matt Collins]

One source of mine in NH says that there are 2 State Senators, and about 30-50 State General Assemblymen in the Granite State that are "hardcore libertarians". That explains it.

[Fredom101]

So is New Hampshire the most libertarian state? I found this site over the weekend by searching this question, and there's one poster here of some gravity who found NH to be no libertarian sanctuary.

Nope, that's an illusion.

[daviddee]

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[jrskblx125]

i'd move to new hampshire i'm only 15 minutes away in central mass. property tax is WICKED high though, i'm employed in mass so i get hit on the state income tax there. i am paying close attention to legislation up there. the only problem i see is that a state like new hampshire uses that tax money pretty wisely. the property tax is high to compensate for other taxes. theyll get it from somewhere. its funny because i drive all over new england and new hampshire has the best roads of all the states IMO. massachusetts sucks and i get buttraped on state tax and sales tax and ciggabutt tax you name it.

[daviddee]

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[libertybrewcity]

They have to make some progress before being called a libertarian state. Aren't their liquor stores owned by the government? How about a bill that sells them off and lets people open up their own stores.

[jrskblx125]

yeah i mean i'm in the industrial water treatment business... so i need to be where the industry is lol. we have like 4 accounts out in phoenix area (the water there sucks) and a bunch down south. i'm only 23 but im lookin to buy a house pretty soon. as of right now its a matter of if its in massachusetts or new hampshire.

[daviddee]

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[daviddee]

...

[libertybrewcity]

It pains me to say it, but I would stick with Mass if you are working out of there.

You are going to have to pay the Mass taxes anyways and if you have to get ass raped on the NH property taxes also then it is simply not worth it.

The only advantage to moving from MA to NH is if you are also earning in NH... which few do in Southern New Hamsphire. The stream of cars heading South bound to Massachusetts on 93, 495, and 95 daily proves this.

Keep in mind too that in MA you get some level of protection on your investment in your house... Where as NH has little to no zoning laws... so your lovely house today could be surrounded by cars on blocks and other eye sores in 5 years... while being taxed through the nose on property taxes. At least MA has "Prop 2.5" (or at least it did) so your property taxes as somewhat restrained.

If you have not done it yet, you need to do the math. NH, in the end, was more expensive than MA was. You have to ignore these bullshit links that people post about "low tax states". They are done on an "average person"... If you are not average then they do not apply. If you own a business: NH sucks. If you earn a large amount of your income from interest and dividends: NH sucks. If you choose to put your earnings from work, investments, etc into a high dollar home: NH sucks. If you work in Massachusetts (as a shitload of people in NH do): NH sucks

interesting comment1|!

[One Last Battle!]

Yes, they own the liquor stores. They are anti-competition

Refer to this link for the amount of state taxes:
http://www.nh.gov/revenue/faq/gti-rev.htm

It is enlightening.

They have a high 8.5% corporate tax rate + enterprise tax. They are anti-business

They have obscene property taxes. Anti-ownership

5% income tax on dividends/interest. Anti-investment/Anti-savings


I buy a product on what they have -today-... Not what they could have tomorrow. Tomorrow usually never comes.

NH = Vaporware

"New Hampshire - Hey, at least we are marginally better than Massachusetts"

Frankly, I could get past all of that if they abolished the income tax and followed through with all of these other bills. If they can seriously remove the income tax in NH, then that proves they could deal with the rest of those taxes easily.

[nathanmn]

Frankly, I could get past all of that if they abolished the income tax and followed through with all of these other bills. If they can seriously remove the income tax in NH, then that proves they could deal with the rest of those taxes easily.

LOL. They don't have an income tax in NH. That is why the property taxes are high, while they still manage to be so low in overall tax burden.

[nathanmn]

Yes, they own the liquor stores. They are anti-competition

Refer to this link for the amount of state taxes:
http://www.nh.gov/revenue/faq/gti-rev.htm

It is enlightening.

They have a high 8.5% corporate tax rate + enterprise tax. They are anti-business

They have obscene property taxes. Anti-ownership

5% income tax on dividends/interest. Anti-investment/Anti-savings


I buy a product on what they have -today-... Not what they could have tomorrow. Tomorrow usually never comes.

NH = Vaporware

"New Hampshire - Hey, at least we are marginally better than Massachusetts"

Well, the thing is they have a low overall tax burden. I agree with you that their methods of taxation suck. Corporate income tax and property tax are stupid taxes to have at a high rate. People in NH should get a sales tax to spread the tax burden out, and eliminate the corporate income tax and dividend/interest tax.

Anyways, the NH as a libertarian state thesis seems to be working out just great. They chose it because it is already relatively libertarian(gun laws, seat belt laws, overall tax burden, etc), it has a small population, and an accessible political system. Somewhere around 1000 people have moved I believe, and they have already elected a bunch of pro-liberty people and made legislative progress. The point to this was never so much that there was a libertarian paradise in NH, but that it was a state that was fertile to turn into a much more libertarian state... with enough people moving there, and a lot of work. It seems to be working to a large extent.

"I buy a product on what they have -today-... Not what they could have tomorrow. Tomorrow usually never comes."

I can't blame you for that mindset either... I have the same one. I have a wait and see attitude with NH before even seriously considering moving there, but it looks like the free state project is having some success.

[Flash]

Keep in mind too that in MA you get some level of protection on your investment in your house... Where as NH has little to no zoning laws... so your lovely house today could be surrounded by cars on blocks and other eye sores in 5 years...


Hmmm anti-liberty AND a racist (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?151163-Why-aren-t-we-all-members-of-the-Free-State-Project&p=3097247&viewfull=1#post3097247). I don't think people realize this user has openly said he's looking for WHITE state rather than a libertarian-leaning state.

[itshappening]

NH is neocon central

they voted for McCain and go along get along Ayotte

Dont expect anything good

when I see them eliminate drivers licenses I might take notice

[itshappening]

they own the liquor stores? so much for living free

so i couldn't open a liquor biz in NH?

[Flash]

No one is saying New Hampshire is a Libertarian/Voluntaryist paradise. However they have MORE liberty Republicans and libertarian-leaning Republicans in the State Congress than ANY OTHER state in the union. Massachusetts is where the jobs are at, so it's unlikely that there is or is going to be a massive flood of MA residents into NH anytime soon. That's like saying northern New York will stop being conservative because NYC'ers & MA people will flood it. The MA residents that DO end up moving to NH tend to move to the southeastern region, and they usually vote Republican. I have still YET to see hard evidence that 'massholes' are turning the state blue. So what's the problem? Sure, there are places in New Hampshire that vote straight Democrat every election (and EVERY state has these places), but all one needs to do is run as liberty democrat ie people such as Andrew Carroll (http://carroll4nh.com/).

[Dreepa]

wow lots of things people don't understand about NH.

Just to summarize:
1. No income tax.
2. No sales tax.
3. No seat belt law (only one in nation)
4. No helmet laws.
5. Good gun laws.

Yes there are lots of GREAT liberty bills in the NH House this session.

The myth of they high property tax.... 1. It varies greatly by town.
2. NH has town meetings... that means that your property taxes are directly affected by town meeting votes. BY LINE ITEM. yeah by Line item. So if you can get a group of concerned citizens you can have a profound impact on your property tax.
3. Some may count the percentage as high... and it may be but $4000 a year in property tax still beats... $1500 a year in property tax plus $3000 in income tax and $500 in sales tax.

I moved here 5 years ago (from CA) as part of the Free State Project. Great things are afoot here in NH. Even without the great activists I love it here in NH.

Feel free to post any questions you may have about NH and I will try and answer them honestly... I will even mention the bad parts... :)

[Austrian Econ Disciple]

Bump. Can't wait myself to get to NH!

[IDefendThePlatform]

Great work New Hampshire! Keep it up people.

[jrskblx125]

If u move to nh but work in mass u get screwed by solid property tax and 6% or so of state income tax. This is the dilemma i am facing.

[Austrian Econ Disciple]

If u move to nh but work in mass u get screwed by solid property tax and 6% or so of state income tax. This is the dilemma i am facing.

The solution is to not get a job in MA :p

[jrskblx125]

I work for my dad and fully intend to run the company in 5 years lol. We do work all over the country. He has no intention of moving shop.